Note 27 — Chapter V
Reading edition
These knob-kerries, which answer the purpose of a life-preserver, are made of various kinds of wood or of rhinoceros horn, and carved according to the fancy of the maker. They are sometimes adorned with beads (see one of those in the woodcut), but the more ordinary form is that of a short stick with a single rounded knob at the end, to give it weight. The natives can throw them a great distance with marvellous accuracy, being often able to bring down a bird on the wing with one of them.